Driving connecting means



Sept. 23, 1924.

R. M. MILLER muvrue couunc'rme MEANS Filed Dec. 24, 1919 u u l wINVENTOR PH M, Mum? Patented Sept. 23, 1924.

UNITED STATES RALPH M. MILLER, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

DRIVING CONNECTING IVIEANS.

Application filed December 24, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH M. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Oakland, county of Alameda, and State of California, haveinvented a new and useful Driving Connecting Means, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to mechanism for operatively connecting a drivingelement to a driven element, particularly where it is desired that theload of the driven element be transmitted to the driving element varygradually.

An object of the invention is to provide a driving connection that willenable the driv ing element to pick up the starting load so graduallythat a motor may be used which only possesses suflicient power to carrythe load after the driven element has attained full speed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drive connection inwhich the time required to effect complete engagement be tween thedriving element and the driven element varies directly with the load.

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism of thecharacter described which will prevent the motor from being over-loaded.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the followingdescription of the preferred form of my invention which is illustratedin the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. Itis to be understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made bythe said drawings and description, as I may adopt variations of thepreferred form within the scope of my invention as set forth in theclaim.

Referring to said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional View of my apparatus shown inconnection with a clothes drying machine and electric motor.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Briefly expressed my invention comprises a driving element which isarranged to be practically continually engaged frictionally byconnecting mechanism that is fixed to the driven element.

A detailed description of my invention follows:

In the present embodiment of the invention the driven shaft 4 isvertically disposed Serial No. 347,170.

in the bearing 5 formed in the frame of the clothes drying machine 7.The upper end of the shaft is secured to the rotatable clothesreceptacle 8 which is further supported by the aligned complimentaryshaft 9 and bearing 12 removably positioned at. the top of thereceptacle.

As shown in the present form of the invention the driving clementcomprises a pulley 13 which is mounted for rotation directly on thedriven shaft 4. The shaft 4 extends below the pulley 13 and is providedwith a collar 15 upon which the pulley may rest, The pulley ispreferably connected to the shaft 17 of the electric motor 18 or anyother suitable source of power by the belt 19 Connecting mechanism isprovided for the pulley 13 and the shaft 4 whereby the shaft is enabledto attain the speed of the pulley gradually and from a relativelystationary position upon the rotation of the pulley. Pivoted to ears 21of the collar 15 which is fast to the shaft 4, are one or more levers 22having a weight 23 formed on one of the arms 24 thereof. The free arm 25of each lever is arranged to engage the cylindrical face 27 of thepulley extension 28 and is formed with a segmental shoe 29 having awearing lining 31 provided on its inner face. The levers in the presentinstance are so formed and positioned that they press against the pulleyin frictional engagement therewith continually, however this is notabsolutely essential, it being of greater importance that the leversshould frictionally engage the pulley at the time it is desired toeffect a connection between the pulley and shaft 4 and thereafter.

To efiect the operation of the apparatus the motor is started therebycausing the pulley to attain full speed almost instantly. Ashereinbefore stated the levers are in frictional engagement with thepulley so that as soon as the latter is rotated the levers tend torotate with it. However the initial engagement between the two membersis only sui'licient to cause what might be termed a slipping connection,but nevertheless the driven shaft is forced to rotate slightly. Afterthe shaft begins to rotate the engagement between the levers and thepulley be comes more positive thereby enabling the driven shaft torotate faster and faster. Meanwhile the rotation of the driven shaftcauses the weighted arms of the lever to be thrown outwardly therebystrengthening the engagement between pulley and shaft at each revolutionof: the latter until a positive connection between the two is effectedand maintained.

I claim:

In a device of the character described, a vertically disposed drivensha'ft, a driving element mounted for rotation on said shaftand having acylindrical outer face, a plurality of levers pivotally supported onsaid driven shaft and having one arm Weighted in excess of the other,friction shoes on the other arms of said levers normally held inengagement with the cylindrical surface of vsaid driving element wherebysaid driven element is caused to obtain the speed of the driving elementgradually and from a substantially relatively stationary condition uponthe rotation of said element.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Oakland, California,this 29th day of November, 1919.

RALPH M. MlLL'l'lR In presence of- J. B. GARDNER, L. L. M. SALSBURY.

